The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-03-23
MAINE MAsoNs.

CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.l
ton with the Grand Lodge. The name of
Portland Lodge was first used December q,
1886.
In 1906 an event occurred which disturbed
the lodge and its members greatly, and the
effects of which only disappeared with the
death of the actors This was the formation
of Ancient Landmark Lodge by members of
Portland Lodge. The new lodge grew out
Of the dispute, well known to Masonic stu
dents, between what was known as the
"ancients" and the ''moderns." Portla nd
Lodge seems to have adopted the new work
published by Webb in his Free Mason's
Monitor about this time; the older members,
who were inclined to the use of the older
and imperfect work, were bitterly opposed
to this, and the outcome of the difficulty
was Ancient Landmark Lodge, the second
lodge of Free Masons to be formed in Port
land. 1t may be mentioned that one result
of this difficulty was regulation of the
Grand Lodge that no lodge should receive a
charter without the consent q the nearest
lodge. After much discussion the matter was
finally decided in favor of Ancient Land
mark Lodge, whereupon Portland Lodge
voted to return its charter to the Grand
Lodge. This action was accordingly
taken, but the Grand Lodge refused to
accept the surrender of the charter. and
continued to treat Portland Lodge as an ex-
listing lodge. The position of the lodge was
quite anomalous; its charter was in force
but not in its possession it held no paaati-Ssll
hllt-Nas retained On Their n Of the Grand
Lodge, and was represented in the Grand
Lodge; it was dormant, but had not ceased
to exist. Probably some meetings were
when the charter was restored.
Ancient Landmark Lodge was organized
July % 1906, and was composed of members
of Portland lodge, William Tying, tie first
master and founder Of Portland lodge, being
the first master. The older lodge had 3
membership of ninety at this time. and the
city had grown from the small and Compare
lively unimportant town Of Falmouth. when
Portland lodge was instituted, to a thriving
and enterprlslng town of 5000 inhabitants,
At this time, Just before the embargo and
the war with England, the city was enjoying
a period of prosperity which was unequalled
in her annals. The charter for the new
lodge was signed by Timothy Bigelow. grand
master. and Jon Proctor, grand secretary,
The ceremonies of the conservation and in
stallation of the new lodge were held by the
grand lodge, July IA, 1908.
Portland lodge was reopened March Ia,
1911, the charter having been returned by the
grand lodge. Since that time the two lodges
have worked together for the good of Che
craft and the dissemination of true Masonic
principles. From this time until the present
the history OF the order in Maine has been
marked by peace and prosperity, marred
only by the prosecutions of the anti Masonic
excitement of 1S26-1S3S.
The Grand Lodge was organized June /,
1920, and met for the first time in Portland
There were 81 lodges in the State. Gen
William King, the first Maine governor, was
elected Grand Master. The charter for the
first Royal Arch Chapter in Maine was
granted at a special meeting of the Grand
Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts, ifefd
at Mason's Hall, Feb. j., 1906.
The Grand Chonta.~ Maine -, a.. g.. Al,
first time in Mason's Hall, Portland, Feb. 4
1921. There were twelve representative:
present from the four Chapters in the State
MI: vernon Chapter, Portland; Montgom
cry Chapter, Bath; New Jerusalem Chapter
Wiscasset; and Jerusalem Chapter, Halo
well. Charles Fox was chosen Grand Higl
Priest. e.
The Grand Council of Maine was organiz
ed May 3, 1885. there being at that time
three Councils in the State-King Solomon's
Council, Belfast; Mt Vernon Council
Brunswick; and Jerusalem Chapter. Rob
ert p. Dunlap was elected the first Grand
Master, and Charles B. Smith Grand Record
er.
The Grand Encampment of Knights TEN
plar OF Maine was formed some time preyi
ously, the three encampments in the State
sending REPRESENTATIVES to a meeting which
was neld at Portland May 9Th, 1852. Charlie.
b. Smith of Portland was first Grand Com
mander.
Mr.. Chase introduced Herbert Harris
Esq, Master of Warren Lodge, No. 2, o.
Machias, who said that the members of hi.
lodge prided themselves upon its ancient
origin. He spoke Of the difficulties encoun
tered by Masons in the early days of tn,
lodge in getting to its meetings, when roads
were few and the eastern part of the State
sparsely settled. The speaker referred APP
propriately to Portland Lodge as the oldes
in the State.
Masonry Of the Present.
1--WE meet who never met before
Who may not meet again;
Then ill the hours with happy thoughts
That memory will retain.9s
The present is our own; but. while we speak WI
cease from its possession and resign the stage WI
tread on 10 another race as vain, and gay, sanC
mortal as ourselves.
The response was by John j. Bell, ESQ.,, Of
New Hampshire, whose interesting addres:
follows:
THE PRESENT OF MASONRY.
What is the present time? And wha
limits shall ] assign to it? Theologians tel
us that with God there is no past, no future
all is one eternal now; that with Him al
time is present When think of the nigh
of the 18th of October, 1S49, when first re
ceived Masonic light, it seems to me present
Illne, anu tne events OF JnaJ evening, to the
time when | dumbfounded the Worshipfu
Master by complying with his request, seem
to me but as yesterday. | am half inclined
to claim all of my own Masonic life as pres
emit time. And as memory brings back te
me the lodges and the brethren first knew
there Is melancholy satisfaction in the
retrospect. For many long years Masonry
in New England at least, had been under !
cloud of popular diStrust and disfayor: and
now as these clouds were dispelling, and the
lodges were being reopened, and the light
from the Masonic affairs was again shining
albeit 1t may In many cases have shone but
dimly, the zeal and joy of those who for 81
many years had doubted whether that light
should ever again illumine their minds made
Masonry seem more than fear it does to
one who now receives our mysteries with
doubtless a greater perfection of ritual. and
with more luxurious surroundings, but with
out that intense feeling that gave zest to the
teachings of those who had for years held
those teachings in their hearts prohibited
an utterance.
Not only were the physical surroundings
far different, not only was the memory In
many cases strained to bring back that ritual
so long unused, but in the very personnel of
the lodges the mark of the trial through
which the institution had passed was to be
seen. A few old men, survivors from past
generation, and a few young men-now
grown old or passed from earth-formed the
A
membership was the absence of the middle
aged. A whole generation had passed while
the lodges were closed, and that generation
was scarcely represented.
Passing on, it is hard for me to realize that
pleasant occasion in June, 1862, when, at
the head of the Grand Chapter of Maine, /
participated in the centennial of Portland
Lodge, has so far slipped into the past that
presume large majority of the Masons of
Maine have not only become Masons since
then, but have even become eligible for par
ticlpation in our rites. Yet that was a time
of congratulation, on the growth and pros
perity of the craft. Already in the ceaseless
procession of life the gap 1 had alluded to
had passed on, and almost off. 1t was no
longer so conspicuous a feature in our as
semblies 1t was now the lack of old men
whose wisdom and experience are typifled in
those Ancient Landmarks Of which we talk
so much and know SO little. Our lodges
were everywhere crowded with aspirants
for Masonic knowledge, or at least for Ma
sonic means of recognition. The war in
defense of our nations life was in progress,
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